SKI-ING CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 12

SKI-ING CONTEST

SPORT ON RUAPEHU FIRST DOMINIONS' FIXTURE AUSTRALIA WINS SLALOM OTHER EVENTS POSTPONED [by TELEGRAPH —SrECIAI. iIEPOUTF.n] THE CHATEAU, Monday The first ski contest between two British Dominions was commenced at Mount Ruapehu to-day, when the men's slalom between. .Australia and New Zealand was decided. The race resulted in a victory for Australia. Ihe other events had to bo postponed on account of the weather. Although defeated tho New Zealanders made a fine showing. There had been heavy snow during the night and it was lying more than six inches deep round the Chateau this morning, when conditions were clearer than at any time in the past week. Large parties set to work to stamp the slalom course to tho west of Scoria Flat, and tho jump alongside it, which has been built by the English' jumper, Mr. Colin Wyatt. Vagaries of "Weather Just when the course had beeh beaten to a suitable hardness the mist and snow came down again, and an exceedingly cold, strong wind sprang up. The men ran the course a first time, but after the women had waited at tho top for a while, during which conditions steadily became worse, it was decided that the weather was much too severe to attempt to'hold the event. Not long afterwards, however, there was a temporarj' clearance, and, in spite of the strong wind, the men competitors ran a second time over the lower part of the course to complete their event.

The Australian team comprised T. W. Mitchell and D. Stogdale, and the New Zealand team was A. Wigley and B. Murphy. Several other New Zealanders ran liors concours. The course set was of a very high standard and required a great deal of ski-ing skill. Even Mitchell fell on his first run, but, nevertheless, he secured easily tho fastest time. He was followed by Stogdale. and then came a New Zealander not in the team s B. McMillan. Wigley was next. Woman Faints with Cold

Murphy, New Zealand's second man, had an unfortunate first run. Although he made splendid time on the second attempt, being only a few seconds behind Mitchell, who again gained fastest time on this run, he did not make up the leeway. The conditions made it impossible to hold tho jump.

An indication of the severity of the cold is given by the fact that a woman spectator fainted. She recovered after being; Assisted to Salt Hut. Details of the event are as follows: — Australia. —T. W. Mitchell (Im 38 1-os for two descents), 100 points, and D. Stogdale (2m 16 4-os), 71.80 points; total, 171.80 points. New Zealand. —A. Wigley (2m 21 4-ss), 09.26 points, and B Murphy (2m 25 2-ss), 67.56 points; total, 136.82 points. B. McMillan's total time was 2m 17 l-5s for 71.57 points.